Automatic fish feeder

[kendog88]

Hello please answer its for a school project
Im designing a product that automatically feeds the fish, tests the ph, and gives a digital readout of the temperature.
Do you think its a good senior product

 

[Ethos]

I voted no.

I'd use the feeder part for vacations, thats about it.

If one part of it broke, than a good chance the rest would be broken too.

Sorry if I discouraged you, and this should be moved..


Hi and to TFF!

 

[William]

There are already automatic fish feeders, the people wanting them are either going on vacation or want a low maintence tank, so they probably wouldn't use the other two features. pH is not a huge issue in a standard tank - certainly in one where the user can not be bothered to feed themselves, and as for the temperature, I don't see the need for a digital readout personally with a strip down the tank being nice and easy and needing no batteries for replacements.

Good luck with whichever project you choose, welcome to TFF, are you a fishkeeper?

 

[illusion54]

I'd say an external filter that has a reading of ph, nitrate, nitrite, and temperature on its canister might be userful. Now theres an idea !

 

[xxSarahxx]

I would so love a gadget that measured amonia, nitrite and nitrate!!
That would be so useful and quicker than doing the full test!!

 

[MasterP]

they would be good for when your uot of town buti think it sort of takes some of the fun out of keeping fish.

 

[itZme]

Hi,
I just bought a used 75 US gal setup and it came with 2 of the very nice Eheim digital electronic auto-feeders. I haven't even considered using them unless I will be away on a trip. They seem very nice but to me watching the fish eat and get all excited about seeing me open the lid is a large part of the enjoyment of fishkeeping. (my 3 kids do NOT get excited when I feed them)

I have seen digital hang-on thermometers but already have a glass one inside and a stick-on strip for each tank. It would be something that maybe somebody would want but probably a novelty for the most part. Also, I have a digital PH tester that I got in another used tank purchase and it has to be calibrated very often so you may find that part of your experiment to be difficult to implement.

Here's a couple links that maybe will help you on your project.

Eheim Auto Fishfeeder

PH Tester

Thermometer

Good Luck!

-- itZme

 

[Synirr]

I'd say an external filter that has a reading of ph, nitrate, nitrite, and temperature on its canister might be userful. Now theres an idea !

[snapback]901067[/snapback]​

That would rock!! I've seen an ammonia tester thingy which stuck to the inner wall of your tank and gave a constant reading of your ammonia level, but if you could find a way to make one that also tested nitrate, nitrite, and temp... well heck, I'd get one for all my tanks!

 

[mattbeau]

I think that would be a great senior project for class, but alas I rarely check the PH, and I have a nice little 'analog' thermometer on the side and I've not actually ever tried automatic feeders as I rarely go on vacation
but as a project for class, I think it would be pretty cool.


of course I will probably agree with anyone here, a product that displays your current Nitrate, Nitrite and ammonia would be fantastic



I remember my final progect for class was 'building you own computer' (mind you this was 7 years ago, in a rural area)

I did a video and had it playing on my PC in loop.

got an A but no blue ribbons

good luck on your project

 

[jarcher1390]

yeh when your on holiday but like feeding my fish my self

 

[ncjharris]

Something that does read outs for the Nitrates, Ammonia, etc would be good. In fact I looked into it once and you can get them - devices that do all that, and you can hook them up to a comp and it constantly monitors etc......
.........but............
.........the only one's I saw were aimed squarely at LFS and started at around £2k.

Something only for those with a big wallet I feel!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Maybe some sort of system using liquid tets kits? Something like a small machine that takes the correct amount of water, adds the right amount of test kit and shakes it for you? But all in one, so it does ammonia, nitrite/ate, ph etc. at the same time?

 

[Blade118]

i think it saves the time and all that but i voted no because i enjoy caring for my fish its gd fun

 

[colen]

I vote no.

As said, the only reason one would use a fish feeder if they were going on vaction and had no one to do it for them.

Most heaters on the market today are very reliable and have solid thermostats, so once you set the correct temperature there is no need to ever check or change anything.

You might be on the right track with the PH, but knowing nitrates, nitrites, ammonia etc would be much more useful.

 

[Def]

of course I will probably agree with anyone here, a product that displays your current Nitrate, Nitrite and ammonia would be fantastic

You can't get consumer devices to monitor those chemical params via digital probes. The only probes available are scientific laboratory spec probes, which cost a fortune.

I'm coding my own version of the IKS monitor system with a shuttle XPC and mini-LCD screen to monitor tank params. I wanted to monitor exactly those params, along with KH and GH. I couldn't find any probes to do it, in the end I asked a friend who works in a research lab and he told me.